Pepita Crusted Cheddar Jack Southwest Chicken Mac Recipes

SOUTHWEST MAC & CHEESE WITH OPTIONAL CHICKEN

Steps:

• Boil the pasta until al dente, according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cool water to stop the cooking, and return to the pan you boiled it in. Set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Set out six individual, oven-safe ramekins or gratin dishes for individual servings, two 5"x8" baking dishes if you're cooking up one dish with meat and one without, or an 8"x8"/two-quart baking dish if cooking it all in one big batch.
• In a medium bowl, toss together the cheddar, monterey jack, and Parmesan cheeses. Set aside.
• Over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the flour, salt, dry mustard, chili powder, pepper, and 1/8 teaspoon smoked paprika. Stir constantly over medium heat for about three minutes.
• Slowly whisk in the milk. Continuing over medium heat, whisk frequently for about 10 minutes, until the sauce thickens (as the sauce gets thicker, I recommend going from frequent stirs to constant stirs to help avoid burning).
• Remove from heat, and stir in 2 cups of the cheese. Continue stirring until cheese is melted, then add the green chilies and corn. Stir until combined. Select your version from the options below to continue.

TWISTED MAC

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a double boiler combine the American cheese, tomatoes and chiles, cream, Swiss cheese and butter and cook until smooth and creamy. Add the andouille.
• Cook the pasta according to instructions on package. Combine cooked pasta and sauce in a mixing bowl, making sure the pasta combines with the sauce.
• Pour combination in a casserole dish and top with the shredded Cheddar and mozzarella.
• Bake until the cheese is browned the way you like it, 15 to 25 minutes. Enjoy.

MAC AND JACK SALAD

Steps:

• Bring water to a boil, salt it and add pasta.
• While pasta water is coming up to a boil and cooking, combine corn, pepper, onion and celery in a bowl with pepper Jack cheese. Season the veggies with salt and pepper.
• Run pasta under cold water to cool it and drain it well. Add pasta to vegetables and cheese.
• Place vinegar in a small bowl and whisk in extra-virgin olive oil, then fold in salsa. Pour sauce over salad and toss to coat evenly. Garnish salad with cilantro or parsley and serve.

PEPITA CRUSTED CHICKEN WITH MEXICAN CORN CAKES

Steps:

• For chicken:
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Pound chicken breasts into 1/4-inch thickness. Place the eggs into a dish. The next dish mix flour, salt and pepper. In a third dish place pepitas and panko. Dip chicken into the eggs and then the flour mixture, back to the eggs and then into the pepita/panko mix to coat. Spray baking sheet with cooking spray and place chicken on top. Bake for about 25 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.
• For corn cakes:
• In food processor mix 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons half-and-half, 3 tablespoons melted butter, egg yolk and half the corn until smooth. Transfer mixture to medium bowl. Add remaining corn, onion, cilantro and jalapeno and set aside. In a separate bowl mix flour, cornmeal, baking powder and salt. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and gently mix. In a small bowl whisk egg white until slightly stiff peaks form. Fold whisked egg into other ingredients. In a large cast iron skillet over medium heat, place 2 tablespoons oil. Drop batter by tablespoons into hot skillet making 8 cakes. Cook approximately 1 minute on each side or until browned.
• For mango sauce:
• In a food processor place the mango, white onion, cilantro, sugar, jalapeno and salt and process until smooth. Add chicken broth and place in small saucepan over medium heat. Cook until bubbles form. Reduce heat to low and stir in half-and-half.
• To Serve:
• Place 1 chicken breast and 2 corn cakes on each plate. Drizzle with mango sauce and garnish with crumbled queso fresco.

SOUTHWEST FOUR CHEESE CHICKEN

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375ºF.
• Combine bread crumbs and seasonings in medium bowl; stir in cheese.
• Moisten chicken with water. Coat with cheese mixture, 1 piece at a time. Lightly press cheese mixture onto both sides of chicken. (Chicken will not be completely coated.) Place on baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray; top with any remaining cheese mixture.
• Bake 28 to 30 min. or until chicken is done (165ºF).

SOUTHWEST CHICKEN, MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Brown chicken and cut into 1 inch pieces.
• Add 2 cups of water bring to a boil.
• Add the 2 cups of macaroni cook on medium heat for 15 minute or until all of the water is gone (mix often so it does not stick).
• Add 1 can of Rotel and 10 oz. of Velveeta cheese.
• Melt and serve.

PEPPER JACK CHICKEN

Steps:

• Thaw and clean chicken, tenderize with a mallet or something.
• preheat oven to 425; place foil in the bottom of a baking pan (this eliminates a lot of pan scrubbing afterwards) and put a rack on top of the foil. place entire pan into the oven to preheat for 10 to 15 minutes.
• sprinkle spices on chicken evenly and bake in oven for 30 minutes turning once after 15 minutes,.
• prepare tomato and cheese topping. slice tomatoes in less than 1/4 inch slices.
• after 30 minutes, remove chicken from oven to ensure it is cooked thoroughly. turn on broiler.
• place 1 slice of cheese per breast and centered, and 1 slice of tomato on top of the cheese and return to oven for broiling.
• broil in oven for approximately 4 minutes or until cheese has slightly melted and tomato is slightly crispy on the edges. (trust me, it's delicious).
• remove and enjoy.

SOUTHWEST CHICKEN PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Place a pie crust into a pie dish, and bake in the preheated oven for 5 minutes. Sprinkle 1/4 of an 8-ounce package of Cheddar cheese onto the crust, and set aside.
• In a bowl, combine the chicken, instant rice, black beans, corn, black olives, sour cream, salsa, 3/4 of 8-ounce package of Cheddar cheese, garlic powder, and cumin. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and pour the mixture into the partially-baked crust. Top the pie with the remaining crust, seal the edges of the pie, and cut slits into the top crust.
• Bake for 25 minutes, and check to see if the crust is becoming too brown. If it is, wrap a strip of aluminum foil around the edge of the crust. Bake until the pie is golden brown and bubbling, 15 to 20 more minutes.
• Allow the pie to sit for 10 minutes before serving.

SOUTHWEST CHICKEN PANINI

Steps:

• Whisk water, vegetable oil, and marinade mix together in a glass or ceramic bowl. Add chicken and toss to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and marinate in the refrigerator for 15 to 30 minutes, or overnight.
• Preheat an electric grill (such as George Foreman®) for medium heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Remove chicken from the marinade and shake off excess. Discard the remaining marinade.
• Place chicken on the preheated grill, close the lid, and cook until no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, about 6 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
• While chicken is cooking, heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add bell peppers and onion and saute until tender, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Butter one side of each slice of bread. Assemble 2 sandwiches by layering Monterey Jack cheese, vegetables, and chicken between the unbuttered sides of the bread.
• Place sandwiches on the grill, close the lid, and cook until bread is golden brown and cheese is melted, about 3 minutes.

CONTEST-WINNING PEPPER JACK MAC

Steps:

• Cook macaroni according to package directions; drain and set aside., In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in the flour, salt, mustard, pepper and Worcestershire sauce until smooth; gradually add milk and cream. Bring to a boil over medium heat; cook and stir for 1 minute or until thickened. Stir in cheeses until melted. Stir macaroni into cheese mixture., Transfer to a greased 2-qt. baking dish. Sprinkle with bread crumbs, bacon, Parmesan cheese and onions. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until bubbly and golden brown.

SOUTHWEST CHICKEN KIEV

Steps:

• In a shallow bowl, combine cracker crumbs and taco seasoning; set aside. In another bowl, combine 3 tablespoons butter, cheese, chilies, onion and salt. Shape mixture into six balls. , Flatten chicken to 1/4-in. thickness. Place a butter ball in the center of each. Roll up and secure with toothpicks. In a shallow microwave-safe bowl, melt remaining butter. Dip chicken in butter, then coat evenly with cracker mixture. , Place seam side down in a greased shallow round 3-qt. microwave-safe dish. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 12-14 minutes or until chicken juices run clear and a thermometer reads 170°. Discard toothpicks.

SOUTHWEST CHICKEN ALFREDO PASTA BAKE RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350˚F (180˚C)
• Cook the fusilli pasta according to box instructions. This will make about 4½ cups (900g) of cooked pasta.
• In a large bowl, mix together cooked pasta, corn, black beans, cooked chicken, alfredo sauce, and taco seasoning.
• Pour into a 9x13-inch (23x33 cm) baking pan and spread evenly around the pan.
• Sprinkle Monterey Jack and cheddar cheese over the top and cover with foil.
• Bake for 35 minutes, uncovering after 20 minutes to allow the cheese to brown.
• Garnish with cilantro.
• Enjoy!

SOUTHWEST CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a large skillet, heat oil over medium high heat. Brown chicken breasts on both sides. Add tomatoes with green chile peppers, beans and corn. Reduce heat and let simmer for 25 to 30 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and juices run clear. Add a dash of cumin and serve.

SOUTHWEST CHICKEN AND RICE CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Spray a 4-quart casserole dish with nonstick spray. Add chicken, uncooked rice, black beans, and corn and stir until combined. Set aside.
• Mix tomato sauce, 2 cups chicken broth, sour cream, chili powder, salt, cumin, ancho chile pepper, and white pepper together in a large bowl. Pour into the casserole dish and mix well; contents should be fairly soupy. Cover with foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes. Remove from the oven, uncover, and stir.
• Add the remaining 1/2 cup chicken broth if the casserole is too dry or beginning to stick. Cover again and return to the oven until rice is soft, about 40 more minutes.
• Remove foil, stir contents, and sprinkle with grated Cheddar cheese. Return to the oven until cheese is melted, about 5 minutes.